Changing Japanese Tastes Opportunity For N.Z. Trade

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 22

Changing Japanese Tastes Opportunity For N.Z. Trade

(Nn> Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 14. What New Zealanders mnst understand was that the dietary habits ot the Japanese people, especiaJiy those under the age of 30, had changed drastically—“and this provides New Zealand with an extraordinary opportunity.” Mr Joshio Nirasawa, j leader writer of the “Japan Economic Journal,” one of the four leading dailies in Japan, made this point in an interview today. It was his belief, added Mr Nirasawa, that Britain's entry into the European Coaunoti Market would have an adverse effect upon New Zealand's economy. “Up until now you have done very well. But soon you win be facing a real problem. New Zealand must find more markets abroad.

“Think of the opportunity that 100,000,000 Japanese, with an ever increasing demand for the products for which New Zealand is so well known, can provide.”

Mr Nirasawa, in • New Zealand as a guest of the Government, has a daughter aged 12 years. He considers her typical ot the rising generation.

“My daughter is just crazy for beef and mutton, for butter, cheese and milk. So is tny son who is a year younger. So are their classmates.” Mr Nirasawa said that at one time—and it was not so

long ago—the Japanese lived, in the main, on rice and fish, “Some of the older people still prefer rt that way bat not the rising generation." Yet, ' though the Japanese must eat, they must also trade in order to buy both

foodstuffs and raw materials.

Mr Nrrasewn said he was pleased to note an increase in New Zealand knports from Japan: in the last three years they bad almost trebled in value.

Trade must necessarily be a two-way matter and he believed that Japan and New Zealand could complement each other. “There is room for tremendous expansions, to the mutual benefit of our countries,” he said.